Head of agribusiness at Bidco Africa John Kariuki talking to farmers in Kikopey, Gilgil, on Saturday.

Bidco Africa Group plans to partner with more than 25,000
small-scale farmers to boost the production of soybeans and sunflower locally
so as to meet their demand for edible oils.

Speaking at a farmers' field day in Kikopey, Gilgil, on
Saturday, head of agribusiness John Kariuki, the country is facing a shortage
of the two crops forcing manufacturers to import the raw products from
neighbouring countries for processing.

He pointed out that the country barely produced 50% of its edible
oil needs despite a ready and lucrative market.

“This initiative is aimed at
empowering farmers financially. Many farmers have been
growing maize but it is time they changed to sunflower and soybeans whose
returns are higher than what is realised from other crops notwithstanding that
the two crops are drought-resistant crops that can grow in any part of the
country,” explained Kariuki.

He acknowledged that the firmrequires over 10,000 metric tonnes of sunflower and soya
annually against an estimated supply of 5,000 metric tonnes, forcing them to
rely on neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania to bridge the gap.

Kariuki added that they were seeking to engage more than
50,000 farmers across the country by next year.

“Bidco will contract the farmers, offer them technical
support, logistics and an uptake market once the product is ready for harvesting,”
he said.

Michael Nderitu, who is in charge of contracting, said
Gilgil had a conducive environment to grow the crop.

He said crops on eight acres which had been put on trial had
performed beyond their expectation and hence the move to seek more farmers.

“The crop is also ideal for this region because it is rarely
attacked by pests, livestock or wildlife,” he added.